[Laparoscopic fenestration of lymphoceles after kidney transplantation]

Lymphocele is a relatively frequent complication after kidney transplantation, which impair the passage of urine from the kidney, cause emptying of bladder lymphoedemas of the lower limbs, etc. Percutaneous drainage of lymphocele is associated with a risk of infection and a high percentage of recurrence. Until recently, standard surgical treatment of this complication was open fenestration of the lymphocele into the peritoneal cavity. In their paper, the authors describe their first experience with laparoscopic fenestration of the lymphocele. From May 1998 till April 1999 the authors performed laparoscopic fenestration in 5 patients. In four patients the intervention was successful, in one female patient recurrence of lymphocele was observed, which was later resolved by an open operation. In none of the patients early or late surgical complications occurred, the use of analgetics during the postoperative period was minimal, the length of hospitalisation ranged from 2 to 4 days. The authors consider the discussed method a suitable alternative for treating lymphocele after renal transplantation thanks to its minimal invasivity. It involves practically no load of the sick patients after kidney transplantation.